Design Memory Craft: This Journey Begins Scrapbook Page Using Stencils

Hi there! It's the last day of May and I have mixed feelings about this day...it is my youngest son's high school graduation. Where did the time go? Sniff! Sniff! I created a scrapbook page for him using a couple of stencils from two sets - Stencils 10ct 101 Collection and Stencil 10ct 201 Collection.

Please visit Faber-Castell® Design Memory Craft® Blog for detailed steps out and a FULL supplies list. I am only sharing some peeks :)

OK...you have to visit Faber-Castell® Design Memory Craft® Blog for the rest! LOL!!

Thanks for stopping by and if you have a graduate, congrats to you!!
MargieH

Hazel and Ruby: DIY Chalkboard Clipboard Upcycle

Hello! Today I'm up on Hazel & Ruby Blog as guest designer!! SO EXCITED :)

I created a "Back to School" project using Hazel & Ruby's Broadside Alpha Stencil-Mask, Quote Me Fat Roll, Washi Tape and Too Cool Pic Pockets to create a DIY Chalkboard Clipboard! Here are some peeks on what I did...

I needed to make this a masculine piece for my son who is entering his senior year in high school...sniff, sniff!! I had this NOTES clipboard that I purchased from the dollar spot at a big box chain store a few months ago...

OOops!! Can't show you ALL! You need visit DIY Chalkboard Clipboard Upcycle post on Hazel & Ruby for a FULL tutorial and ENTIRE supplies list!

Please leave me some "LOVE" over there and let them know how you like this project! Thanks!!!

As always, thanks for stopping by here!!
MargieH

JustRIte: Stitched Flower Vintage Tags Clear Stamps

Today, I am introducing JustRite® PaperCraft’s March 2014 Release – Stitched Flowers Vintage Tags Clear Stamps to create a 12 x 12" scrapbook page.

I was cleaning the basement when I came across this picture of my two boys when they were CUTE! Now they're just teenagers - HA! Needless to say, my basement is still a mess but I have a wonderful scrapbook page (BIG GRIN)! LOL!!

今日からJustRite3月のリリースを紹介します。可愛らしい花と蝶々のスタンプセットです～！。今回は１２インチのレイアウトを作りました。いっぱいお花を作りました！（笑）この写真は、子供たちが小学校の時でした。 10年前？早い。

I stamped two different flower images on patterned papers and cardstock. JustRite has SVG Stitched Flowers Vintage Tags Digital Cut Download for this set if you have an electronic cutting machine. Click to see more details. Since I don't have a machine yet, I fussy cut mine and adhered with a combination of Dodz and 3D Foam Squares. The centers were embellished with buttons - LOVE it!

For the top left edge accent, I stamped a Vintage Tag, cut/embossed with Vintage Tag Dies and folded in half to adhere to the edge. Add letter stickers, S5-143 Jewel Flowers and Flourishes Butterfly (antenna) die and sequins.

I loved that JustRite included a "movement" line stamp for the butterfly = PERFECT :)

I used the words "Dreams" and "Wishes" from the set to create the title on top of a sanded S5-194 Pearl Effects die cut with sequins.

Here's a second look...

Project Supplies:
JustRite Papercraft Stamps – Stitched Flowers Vintage Tags Clear Stamps
JustRite Custom Dies - Vintage Tag Dies
Spellbinders® Creative Arts - S5-143 Jewel Flowers and Flourishes, S5-151 Basic Lattice and S5-194 Pearl Effects
Inks – IMAGINE Craft®/TSUKINEKO® (StazOn - Jet Black)
Cardstock - WorldWin Papers and Darice,
Letter Stickers - Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock®/David Tutera™ for Darice Celebrate Cardmaking System
Patterned Papers - Lily Bee Design (Double Dutch Collection) and Webster's Pages (Sunday Picnic Collection)
Pearls - Want2Scrap© and KaiserCraft
Adhesives - SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L® (E-Z Runner Tape Adhesive, 12 x 12" Adhesives Sheet, 3D Foam Squares and Dodz™)
Other - Sequins, Buttons and Thread/Twine

See what my fellow designers have created with today’s sweet release!

JustRite Inspiration
Debbie Olson
Margie Higuchi
Heidi Blankenship
Kathy Jones
Marisa Job
Darsie Bruno 
Michele Kovack
Amy Tedder
Kazan Clark
Eva Dobilas
Angela Barkhouse
Kristi Schurr
Sheri Holt

Thanks for stopping by to visit!
MargieH

Happy Birthday, Hiro!!!

YIKES! Looks like I haven't blogged in like FOREVER! SORRY~! Most of you know that I work on Spellbinders™ Paper Arts' marketing and web team. This 2013 Winter CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc.) trade show was our BIGGEST release to date...over 180 items. Well, that means I write all those descriptions and measure every single die templates/bezels/blanks PLUS other responsibilities (too long to list!). BUT I LOVE IT!! LOL!!

Yesterday, my responsibility (and important) is being MOM :) So I am wishing my "little" guy, Hiro, a SUPER 16 birthday!! He finished his first semester final exam on Friday, went to a chess conference on Saturday to place 1st in fifth board category - beating out over 350 players and last night, we had dinner at a restaurant of his choice - Buffalo Wild Wings! SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HIRO!! Love you!!!

Happy Birthday by Margie Higuchi
Supplies - Card Base, Cardstock, Die Cuts, Sticker Sentiments and Sand-It Gadget: Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock® (David Tutera™ Celebrate Card Making System); Stamp: JustRite® PaperCraft Inc. (Vintage Travel Background Stamp); Watermark Ink: TSUKINEKO (VersaMark); Embossing Powder: American Crafts (Black Opaque); Wood Button: Maya Road; Metal Gears: Advantus (Tim Holtz Idea-ology); Embossing Folder: Spellbinders™ Paper Arts (EL-015 Bricks and Bark M-Bossabilities™ Folder); Tools: ScraPerfect (Perfect Crafting Pouch) and Fiskars (Easy Stamp Press); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (Best Glue Ever) and SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L (3D Foam Squares)

This is what I started with to stamp the image. Love this Perfect Crafting Pouch - makes the stamped image more sharper and works great on vellum and computer printing too!

Here's a video on its uses...



This medal came home with Hiro on Saturday! Last year, he was Board #8 and in a year, he's up half way (#1 being the toughest). In a couple of weeks, he'll be headed to State in Peoria - fingers crossed that he will do well :)

Next, I'll post pictures of the Core'dinations booth at CHA with all the David Tutera Celebrate Cardmaking System!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

ScrapMart: 2013 Happy New Year!!

Hope your Christmas was a wonderful one! Ours was very quiet and I LOVE it that way! LOL!! This year we opted out of the tradition turkey. We went with the traditional NABE (one pot) dinner with a little bit of SAKE and ended with our Japanese Christmas cake! YUM~!!

These are my boys including the hubster in the middle :)

 

OK..and a picture of me with my "little" monkeys! HA!

New Year's Day is around the corner and I created a card using a combination of Spellbinders™ M-Bossabilities™ Folder - EL-014 Holiday Magic and Spellbinders Shapeabilities® Cut·Fold·Tuck die template - S5-112 Carnival Dream.

2013 New Year Card by Margie Higuchi
Supplies - Cardstock: American Crafts; Metallic Cardstock: WorldWin Papers; Stamp: Lawn Fawn; Ink: Clearsnap; Dies and Embossing Folder: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S4-324 Ribbon Banners; S5-112 Carnival Dream, S5-131 A-2 Matting Basics A and EL-014 Holiday Magic); Adhesives: ScraPerfect (Best Glue Ever) and SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L (3D Foam Squares)

It's amazing what you can achieve it in 5 mins - PROMISE! I did this while watching TV :) I used the letter press technique the edges of the S4-324 Ribbon Banner by inking the edges of the die template (cut ridge side) before cutting and embossing - love the results!

Don't forget that Scrap-mart.com has a "Count Down to the New Year" Sale going on NOW! Don't miss out - sign up on their email list.

If you are interested in Spellbinders Cut·Fold·Tuck die template, let me share Spellbinders Try It Tuesday, a weekly YouTube LIVE show. My friends, Terre Fry and Ken Oliver, featured Spellbinders Cut·Fold·Tuck a couple of weeks ago - take a look at some wonderful tips and ideas on these wonderful die templates! ENJOY!!



As always THANK YOU for always stopping by and leaving me some "love" (aka comment) :)
MargieH xo

Happy!

One word to describe my weekend and the start of the week! LOL!! It was a rare that I can sleep in and be in my jammies most of the weekend. So let's started with all this HAPPINESS...

Happy Mail x 2!!

My order from ScrapAce arrived!!

Do you know about ScrapAce?! They offer one deal per day at a SUPER LOW PRICE!!! Sign up!! This My Mind's Eye Follow Your Heart (Rhonna Farrer) 6x6" pads and stamp sets was one of those great deals and this collection was just released at 2012 Winter CHA!!

TaDa Creative Studios DT package!!

TaDa Creative Studios' 2012 Winter Release!! They have two collection for this season - Poolside Collection and Yee Haw!! Collection. This isn't all of it - I took out the packages to show just a few pieces :)

Happy (and familiar) Face on TV!

Julianna Hudgins on JTV doing her thing!

Spellbinders™ Paper Arts LF-013 Jewel Goddess die template!! Love what she did with it :)

Happy Results!!

Chess State Finals!

My youngest participated in the (IL) State Finals for Chess at the Peoria Civic Center. He placed 11th (out of 100+ players) - Board 8 category. SO proud of him and as a freshman, he will have a great future on his team

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

My Valentines guy!

We went to dinner last night for an early celebration :) It was quiet night at the restaurant - no crowds and a corner booth to ourselves! It is a French bistro in the neighborhood that we don't often go to - we keep telling each other we need to go there more. L'Eiffel Bistrot & Creperie in South Barrington's Arboretum = YUMMY food

My Valentines project - a box full of chocolate!
Supplies - Cardstock: WorldWin Papers & Core'dinations; Stamp: Layers of Colors Art Stamps; Embossing Ink: VersaMark/TSUKINEKO; Embossing Powder: American Crafts; Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S5-019 Labels Eight, S4-298 Antiquities, S5-086 Bitty Blossoms, ES-005 Spellbinders M-Bossabilities Enchanted, F-001 Red Premium Craft Foil and Nested Hearts - retired); Metal Embellishment: Advantus; Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever)

Did you know in Japan, the women give chocolates to their sweeties on Valentine's Day?! They also have those "obligated" chocolates to give to their bosses and co-workers too! LOL!! Then a month later on March 14 (called "White Day"), the men reciprocate by giving chocolate to the women. SO SMART the Japanese confectionery industry! LOL

Happy Giveaway!!!

My Valentines to YOU TWO!!!!
These shirts are from last year's CHA events (right is from 2011 Summer CHA & left is from 2011 Winter CHA) - both are XL sizes.

How to enter to win one of the shirts (international entries are also welcome)? Entries will be accepted until Friday, Feburary 17, 2012 at 11:59PM (U.S. Central Standard Time).

1. Be a follower - thank you, if you already are!!
2. Which of the two new Spellbinders products do you like?

• Spellbinders Cut, Fold & Tuck die templates OR
• Spellbinders M-Bossabilities embossing folders

Thanks so much for reading all the way down! LOL!! I appreciate you all visiting my blog :)

Have a LOVEly day!!
MargieH xo

Let The Routine Begin!

Routine for me or the boys? LOL!!

Happy First Day of School, boys!!

Today is the first day of school for my boys. My youngest is entering high school this year...sigh. I hope they enjoy their high school and that they stay in one school! I, on the other hand, attended three high schools (York Community H.S., Elmhurst IL; Franklin Road Academy, Nashville TN; Am. School In Japan, Tokyo JPN) so you can imagine when I see a classmate, I sometimes pause to think which school he/she is from! LOL!!

Kwansei Gakuin University Chicago Dinner

Speaking of school, my husband's university chancellor was in the country along with the alumni director. Yes, the chancellor is female and an American! LOL!! My husband's unversity has an American/international background in its founding. Don't let the looks fool you - her Japanese is PERFECT!! After all the preparation and hard work, the dinner was a success. It was held at Maggianos in Schuamburg IL in one of the upstairs rooms....BEAUTIFUL! I was thrilled to hear that Chancellor Grubel is also an international school graduate, Nagoya Int'l School! Having an international school background, no matter what school, creates such a wonderful bond of friendship.

My ePub at Scrapbooking & Beyond!

I have an ePub in Scrapbooking & Beyond Magazine.com's projects page! Look for the title: "How to Scrapbook Using Homemade Adhesive Dots." My "Faith" card is featured and it shows how I used ScraPerfect products to put together one of my favorite projects.

My promise of a giveaway!

To celebrate and who doesn't like a celebation! Amy (ScraPerfect's owner) has a contest over at ScraPerfect FaceBook Page!

The Details:

TO WIN A PRIZE??? Just head over to ScraPerfect Facebook Page, find our "Want to Win a Prize" post and tell us where you heard about this contest for ScraPerfect Products. We'd also like to hear questions or comments about our Magically Perfect Craft Products...Where's you first heard about them? What do you love about them? How you use them most?....

THE PRIZE: The Best Glue Ever, Embellie Gellie, Perfect Crafting Pouch and two Perfect Cleaning Cloths.

CONTEST DETAILS: Contest ends November 15, 2011. Winner will be drawn at random from Facebook posts. Paid shipping to the US, as well as Israel & Brazil where our Design Team Members are based AND they can invite their friends to join in! How cool!!

Class of 2011 (8th GR) graduate!!

SO proud that he graduated and completed his 8th grade year last night. Now off to high school!! A new phase in life as he gets closer to college - YIKES!!

It was a hot evening in that gym with only two commercial fans. Lucky that he listened and wore a short sleeved dress shirt - yeah, mom, you were right as he watched his classmates sweat in their long sleeves under those heavy musty gowns! LOL!! Ended with a wonderful dinner at our favorite Japanese restaurant - it was a good night!

Speaking of graduation...my oldest son is on the high school varsity tennis team and his team captain was graduating. So I whipped up a card, slipped some $$ in the pocket and off to the graduation party! I really liked how it turned out since the recipient was a guy, it works...right? The colors are their high school colors - had to include in there some way.

Congratulations by Margie Higuchi
Supplies: Cardstock: Core'dinations; Patterned Paper: Glitz; Stamp: JustRite Stampers; Ink: Tsukineko; Marker: atyou Spica; Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S4-114 Standard Circles LG, S4-116 Standard Circles SM, S4-126 Classic Squares LG, S5-028 Nested Pennants); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (Best Glue Ever)

Inside the card, I created a pocket to hold the graduation money with a little "celebrate" accent and on the other side, I cut/embossed a white square edged in black ink for Taka to write a little note...not pictured because he was still writing! LOL!!

For those of you who are celebrating a special graduate in your life - CONGRATULATIONS!! Many, many successes in your future!!!

Catch Up!

Hey, everyone! I have a lot of my plate but wanted to follow up with my Mom's Day cards. To my very pleasant surprise, my boys made me a card each! I have to say I was impressed and wanted to share a PROUD MAMA MOMENT :0)

I created the one on the left (details on my Mother's Day post), my oldest made the big one in the center in Chinese! He is taking Chinese class and is doing well. The one on the right is from my youngest son who is taking Japanese classes at his junior high school. So this year, the theme is international! LOL!!

I've got a few things coming down the pipe so be sure to watch tomorrow!! I'm HOPPING with joy...heehee!! A little hint (wink).

Have a good Thursday!!

Teacher Appreciation Week

Well, my selfish excuse to make a gift for my youngest's Japanese teacher is two folded...one obviously to thank Mrs. Nakagawa for putting up with somewhat talkative son (where did he get that trait from? heehee!!) and the other is an excuse to make a project with Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker llc products!

In case you haven't been following me too long, I also freelance at a Japanese scrapbook magazine called "Love My Memories." The editor, Emi Kume, had asked me to be its special U.S. reporter. How can I say no?! What an opportunity to work for such a dynamic person! She is credited for bringing scrapbooking to the fore front in Japan.

One of my first articles was about up and coming new companies in the scrapbook industry. Nikki was one of my choices! I blogged about it HERE. Anyways, I was thrilled when I found out that her company is part of the Cross Promotional Partners with Spellbinders™! So my first blog project after the DT Retreat was Nikki's Henry's Brillance Collection...perfect for the upcoming Teacher's Appreciation Week (this week!)!

It turned out so nicely! Can't wait to give this to her :) Have you done anything for your teachers? You have until the end of the week! Don't have time? Tell your child to go hug their teachers and say THANK YOU!! They'll love it!

Thank you, Mrs. Nakagawa, and all those teachers out there! Better you than me - can't even deal with two kids! LOL!!

Never A Dull Moment...

Hey all!

Been working on getting ready for an article for Love My Memories (Jpn SB magazine) but it has been a bear to finish. The pictures finally came through!! Sorry for being a pest for two weeks, Miss M!! Let's hope that the editors don't pull it due to deadline which past a LONG TIME ago! YIKES! So please send me good thoughts my way! LOL!!

In between I've been sewing (don't faint, Mrs. Fish!!) or should I correct that by writing "I'm trying to sew!" LOL! My youngest will be in a Japanese play and I have to put together a KIMONO jacket/JINBEI. I was stuck on the collar! OY! Pray for me! LOL!! Here's before I put the collar on...












Tomorrow, I'm off to Spellbinders™ Design Team Retreat to learn more about the Company, techniques, its marketing and get to know the rest of the gang. I am most excited to get to know my co-blog author Holly! We'll be rooming together! So I am trying to get everything in place at home while I'm gone. AM carpool for oldest - check; PM carpool for oldest & youngest - check; lunch for youngest - check; and summer school sign up - check! All that needs to be done is LAUNDRY & PACKING!! OY!

Be good...will post pictures when I get back and recovered! LOL!!

A Proud Mama...the chick or the egg?

First the chick...have to give praise to my youngest since he doesn't get enough...always overshadowed by his big brother.

He was chosen from two school districts (at the seventh grade level) to be invited to a high school summer school pilot program that's geared towards future engineers (be aerospace, genetic, mechanical). WHEW! That was long! LOL!!

Don't know how many were invited but our district alone has about six to seven junior high schools. I had to go in person to register - it's that new. LOL!! So excited for him. He's a little nervous being it's held at a high school setting and he's riding the bus to school (it's at another high school).

I was wondering what to do with the little guy during the summer, big brother is planning on attending both sessions of high school summer school plus a tennis camp. Then we get this invitation in the mail...what timing!

Good job, Hiro!! We are so proud of you!! xo

Now the egg, I published a post on Spellbiners' blog. I made an Egg-shaped card and it turned out like this:



















To find out how to make a perfect shape, check it out HERE!
Thanks for stopping by :0)
MargieH

Happy Belated Everything!!

OY! I see I needed to update my blog...I've been updating Spellbinders' instead! LOL!

A week ago today I have officially two teenagers in the house! Yes, my baby had his thirteenth birthday so I made his favorite meals ... TONKATSU (Japanese breaded veal cutlet) and Macaroni & Cheese (all homemade and so easy - thanks to The Pioneer Woman!!!).

Then cake but we really don't have a whole cake. I decided a long time ago that each person will get their favorite cake slice ... it makes for a weird looking cake but I tired of the whining. You know kids, they change their mind like they change underwear! LOL! Sooo putting thirteen candles on a slice is a challenge. Instead I made a cake slice topper ... opposed to a cupcake topper.






























Loved how this turned out ... the Nested Owl is new from Spellbinders™ and I also have the Labels Six and the Classic Scalloped Circle. All personalized thanks to JustRite Stampers! And whoooo (sorry, couldn't help it! LOL!) couldn't resist the google eyes to add just the right whismy! Happy belated birthday, Hiro!! xo

Another belated is news about TaDa Creative Studios' releases coming up next month! They usually exhibit at just the CHA-Summer Show so they will be releasing the rest on the blog so be on the look out! LOVE their sneak peeks:


































I am really excited to see the rest of it! These ladies work so hard to design something different - great job!!

OK...it's getting late but wanted the chance to post an update!
Thanks for stopping by! xo

Hiro's First Day of Junior High!!

Today, Hiro went to school and for him, it's not only his first day of school but it's the first day as a junior high schooler!! So I took some quick pictures of him before he headed off with his dad...this year, dad is helping out as both boys start school within 10 mins of each other and are in opposite directions! And no, we are at the edge of the bus route requirement...OY!

I took a picture of Hiro during his open house last week in front of the school name...












And then this morning before heading off to school...













Big brother starts his high school career tomorrow...now I will definitely be a basket-case! LOL!!